An article on Crisis or Disasters

Sample Answer

Research Article Summary: "Mental Health in Emergencies" by the World Health Organization (WHO)

The article "Mental Health in Emergencies" from the World Health Organization (WHO) provides a comprehensive overview of the significant and often underestimated impact of emergencies—such as armed conflicts, natural disasters, and other crises—on mental health. The key takeaway is that almost all individuals affected by emergencies experience some level of psychological distress, which typically includes feelings of anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, sleep issues, fatigue, irritability, and anger. While this distress often improves over time for many, a significant minority (an estimated 22% of those who have experienced war or conflict in the previous 10 years) go on to develop diagnosable mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

The article highlights several critical points:

Vulnerability: Emergencies exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions and create new ones. People with severe mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable during crises due to disruptions in services and reduced access to basic needs.

Systemic Disruption: Emergencies severely disrupt mental health services, leaving affected populations with reduced access to quality care precisely when it's most needed.

Intersectional Problems: Mental health challenges during emergencies are intertwined with social problems like poverty, discrimination, family separation, loss of livelihoods, and disrupted social networks. Even humanitarian responses can inadvertently create problems like overcrowding and lack of privacy, adding to distress.